Mortar Set - part nine

I have varnished the model and base with Galleria Matt Varnish, then highlighted the metal parts with Klear floor varnish before adding my usual ground covering of dyed sawdust and the odd bit of static grass.

The Mortar is fixed to a nearly round base measuring 100mm x 95mm and the Gin stands 65mm tall.

The basic Mortar Set (available from Alternative Armies) is a great little model as it comes, but I think that my modifications and the addition of the Gin lifting frame have made it even better, more unique.

Tony

Mortar Set - part eight

Here you can see the last stages in the painting of the Mortar and base prior to varnishing.

The base has been painted in my usual Snakebite Leather, basecoat with Snakebite/Skull White drybrushed highlights and the details all painted with a long-handled Rosemary & Co No 3 Sable mix brush.

In the final image, you can see the mortar barrel glued in place and the single round shot, the one ready for loading also glued in place. I had thought about having this single shot dangling from some rope from the Gin, but in the end decided to place it on the ground - thinking this would be more secure.

I have given the whole piece another wash and now look forward to both varnishing and finishing-off the base.

Tony

Dremel - RIP

This week my long-suffering Dremel gave up the ghost and stopped working. I've done the obvious like changing fuses and checking all the connections but nothing can breath life back into the old girl. I think it might be time to buy a new one.

RIP Dremel.

Tony

Mortar Set - part seven

I think it is obvious from the image that most of the painting so far has been layering lighter colours over darker ones and washes.

I choose a brass mortar with a green wooden base, while the Gin is painted to represent aged timber.

There is still a lot to do, but even with other commitments, I am managing to drag this particular model along and predict that it should be finished by the end of the month.

Tony

Mortar Set - part six

The model has been undercoated with a Black/Dark Brown watered-down mix.

Since the last post I have added a scratch-built pulley, made from varying sections of cheap knitting needles and florists wire  and some steps to one of the tripod legs. I had seen this particular feature on one of the Gins featured on the Internet and though it was worth copying.

Painting, proper to follow.

Tony

Mortar Set - part five

I have further detailed the base with a Reaper Bones large barrel and the powder scoop from a GW Empire Cannon plastic kit, both were glued in place with superglue before the groundwork was re-modelled.

The mallet was scratch-built from a skewer and cocktail stick, a simple piece of scratch-building.

Please note, the single shell or ball and mortar barrel are not attached to the mortar or base, I will keep them separate to make painting easier.

Tony

Mortar Set - part four

As you can plainly see, I have not been idle.....

The gin was built from strips of scrap wood (actually an old fruit packing case) with the tripod hinge at the top made from a piece of florists wire detailed with plastic card washers and more wire. I have glued the gin in place with superglue and built-up the base with more DAS and sieved stones.

The projectiles were from a resin gun/cannon that I bought many years ago, the four stacked balls were trimmed and glued in place while the single ball has had a wire loop added to the top - to show a ball ready to be loaded.

The inspiration came from an image found on the internet, I think it makes the simple mortar look much more purposeful.

Tony

GIN - a tripod frame used to replace the barrels of cannons in the field and load mortars.

Mortar Set - part three

The mortar base has been glued in place and the groundwork built up from DAS modelling clay with sieved stones and sand glued over uPVA glue. I felt that the base or mortar frame needed some additional detailing so I added cocktail stick wooden pegs to the base, by first drilling holes in the resin and then gluing trimmed cocktail stick pegs into them. I am sure that this additional work will pay dividends when the model is painted and particularly when drybrushed.

I recently met with Ryan, he was kind enough to donate a second mortar (the all metal version) to me. I'm now wondering how I can make the second mortar different.

Finally, I have been told that this model was sculpted by Dave Toone,

Tony

Super Clay

Earlier today, Sue and I visited Coventry, I was able to take some photographs of Spon Street, while Sue browsed the IKEA superstore.

Amongst other bits and bobs, I picked up this pack of air drying modelling clay from one of the discount stores. I usually use DAS modelling clay - either DAS White or DAS Terracotta, but thought that this new product might be worth checking out.

Super Clay; the pack contains 12 smaller, sealed packs of coloured clay.

There is little in the way of information on the pack, either the main outer pack or the inner packs, just this barcode stating Made in China.

I will report back on my findings later.

Tony

Mortar Set - part two

The barrel was drilled out with a standard drill bit and an electric drill, then the rough edges were cleaned up with a new scalpel.

The base was cut from some 3mm thick plastic card and the groundwork built up with DAS modelling clay before being further textured with sieved stones and sand.

Tony

Mortar Set from Alternative Armies

Image taken from the Alternative Armies website

Various modelling projects and commissions have meant that I have neglected some of my recent purchases, this is about to change. The Mortar Set from Alternative Armies and intended for Flintloque was bought earlier this year when the new resin model was on offer and has sat un-loved on my 'to-do' list ever since. It is my intention to build and paint it and record the build as an On-Line Build for July 2016.

The resin and metal parts were very well cast, however I do intend to drill out the barrel of the mortar. (Please note that the earlier version of the same model was all metal and has now been revised to be a resin and metal model).

Details of the model can be found here.

More to follow.

Tony

Books for Sale on ebay

SOLD

I have placed these four modelling books on ebay for full details see this link.

First up we have Painting Miniatures from A to Z by Angel Giraldez.

Next is Styrene Modelling published Evergreen.

SOLD

Then 222 Tips for Building Model Railroad Structures.

SOLD

And finally Modelling Aircraft written by Tim Laming and published by Ian Allen.

Check them out here.

Tony

Dampfpanzerwagon Guide No. 3 - Update

Various modelling projects have contrived to delay work on Book Three, but I can report that I have completed three chapters and am currently working on three more.

At this moment, I am again looking at a full colour card-covered A4 format very similar to the two earlier books. The bulk of the content will be articles and tutorials that have already appeared either in the modelling press or in On-Line magazine portals, such as the now closed Barking Irons Online. The tutorials will include detailed step-by-step images and text and will in most cases include both more images and better images.

Should the book progress - I am still not certain it will go to print, I would envisage a very limited production run, Book One and Book Two have sold over 700 copies between them, Book Three will be limited to less than 200 as I will need to fund the print run myself and although 'playing with' a separate Kickstarter project, (details to be announced soon) I am still not confident enough to use Kickstarter for this particular project.

Finally, if all goes to plan, the book should be available to order/purchase in early 2017.

I will keep you informed of developments.

As at today's date, Dampfanzerwagon Guide No. 1 Building Wargame Terrain is out-of-stock, Dampfpanzerwagon Guide No. 2 More Wargame Terrain has just five copies left.

Tony

Scratch-built Water Pump and Trough

This scratch-built water pump and trough was constructed and painted at the same time as the Gnome Farm or Snail Walls (see earlier posts). It uses a metal casting of a water pump that was originally modelled by me some time ago and then cast in metal by Dave at Grand Manner. The trough was constructed from five pieces of Green Foam and based on an oval of 3mm thick plastic card, while the groundwork was built up from DAS modelling clay and further textured with sieved stones and sand.

The model was undercoated with a black basecoat.

The stone trough was drybrushed with grey and the wooden parts with dark brown.

Highlights followed my usual process of lighter drybrushing and darker washes.

The items of clutter were painted in brighter, more vibrant colours to add interest and the base was further detailed.

I have varnished the whole model with Galleria matt varnish, then gloss varnish for the water surface.

In this final image you can see the Gnome Farm Walls (available from Hysterical Games) and the trough with a Flintloque Rifleorc shown for scale.

Tony